The History and Evolution of the Rolls Royce Ghost

When it comes to modern luxury, no other brand name exudes indulgence the way Rolls Royce does. The brand may have a short history, yet its story is full of interesting points. One Rolls-Royce model, the Ghost, is one of the most interesting models that the brand’s ever produced. The Rolls-Royce Ghost was first announced at the Auto Shanghai show in April 2009 as a smaller, more affordable version of the famous Phantom. By the time it was unveiled later on that year at the Frankfurt Motor Show, people were convinced that the Ghost was far more efficient and effective than its predecessor.

2009 Rolls-Royce 200EX

This was the vehicle that was unveiled initially to the public in 2009. This showed essentially the direction that the Ghost was pursuing when it came to design. By the time the Rolls-Royce came out into production, majority of this initial concept car’s designs were largely unchanged, and it actually wouldn’t get an exterior change for another 6 years. It goes to show just how much the designers and engineers have thought this project through completely.

2009 Rolls-Royce Ghost

The initial release of the Ghost was intended for the UK market. The same hands and brains that worked on the Phantom designed this model: Andreas Thurner and Helmut Reidl. Oddly enough, the Phantom is the Ghost’s direct competition, as well as Bentley’s Flying Spur and the Mercedes Benz S-Class. Not many people know that Rolls-Royce is actually a subsidiary of BMW, and the Ghost’s platform design is basically taken from the BMW 7 series. The Ghost also features a modified version of a BMW engine, which has the capability of going from 0 to 60 in 4.7 seconds—an impressive number for a full-size luxury sedan. Its top speed is said to be at 155mph. It also shares a lot of BMW features including a few stylistics and ornamental features. The Ghost even uses BMW’s iDrive interface.

2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

During the second quarter of this year, deliveries of the Rolls-Royce Ghost would begin in other parts of the world outside of Europe. This included the United States and parts of the Asia Pacific. The European and American versions of the Rolls-Royce Ghost would essentially be the same at this point.

2011 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Given that the Ghost was designed to be the smaller version of the Phantom, it still had room for an extension. 2011 introduced the Ghost Extended Wheelbase for those looking for just something slightly larger. This extended wheelbase version would feature everything else in the car the same as the original 2009 version when it comes to engine, transmission, and performance.

2013 Rolls-Royce Ghost

The Ghost Series I would get a slight update this year, adding the V-Specification model to the original collection, which basically increased the power of the original Ghost just ever so slightly. The changes would be visible in 2014, but the car would get a complete overhaul not too long after.

2014 Rolls-Royce Ghost

The first major updates came with the Ghost Series II. This was released that same year at the Geneva Auto Show. The changes were completely visible, as the Ghost exterior was reshaped and restructured slightly. Headlights and running lights were changed. The wake channel on the bonnet was tapered, and the waft line was slanted even more forward. There were now chrome inserts added to the enlarged front air intakes. The bumpers were changed; the sides were changed. It was a visually different car, and the changes resulted to another stunning vehicle. Even the color options for the car changed as well.

On the interior, the front and rear seats were all redesigned. The second series of the model also introduced some new software technology that aided drivers in navigating. The Satellite Aided Transmission was added as part of a Dynamic Driving Package that was introduced with the Ghost Series II.

The vehicle hasn’t seen another update since the 2014 change, which is again a reflection on how thorough the design and engineering teams were when coming up with everything that’s needed to be changed or updated or improved with the vehicle. The Ghost is a visually appealing vehicle that demands the attention of all those that goes past by it.

About The Author

Nat Berman

Nat is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Uncoached Corporation and all its properties. His primary roles are managing editorial, business development, content development, online acquisitions, and operations.
Uncoached began in 2007 with one site and a goal of creating content that was clear, concise, worth reading, entertaining, and useful. Since then the portfolio has grown to 8 properties covering a wide array of verticals including business, personal finance, real estate, architecture, television, movies, entertainment, video games, lifestyle, pets, and more.
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